A bilingual retreat for persons who serve and participate in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults in parishes throughout the Diocese will be held Feb. 28 from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. in St. Robert Bellarmine Parish, Freehold.

With the focus on the theme of prayer and discipleship, the retreat, to be presented in English and  Spanish, is geared for R.C.I.A. team members as well as the Elect, those who are preparing to be baptized at the coming Easter Vigil, and candidates, those preparing for Confirmation and First Holy Communion.

“The purpose is to help all those attending to let God more fully into their hearts and to act through them to further his work among us,” said Steve Bulvanoski, who serves as R.C.I.A. coordinator in the diocesan Department of Evangelization and Catechesis, which is hosting the retreat.

“Hopefully [the retreat] will be a tool for the elect to use during this Lenten 40-day period of Purification and Enlightenment. The candidates and R.C.I.A. team members, God willing, can use it as they continue their Lenten walk with Jesus out into the desert in an effort to further their ongoing conversion,” said Bulvanoski.

The retreat will open with prayer followed by presentations in English and Spanish on Discipleship, Lectio Divina and leading a guided meditation on the “Our Father.” Following the closing prayer service at 5:30, dinner will be served.

The retreat will feature presentations by Josue Arriola, diocesan director of the Department of Youth, Marriage and Family Life, and Sister of St. Joseph Geraldine Muller, a staff member in San Alfonso Retreat House, West End,

Arriola holds a master of arts degree in theology from Augustine Institute, Denver, Colo.; a bachelor of arts degree with a concentration in humanities from Thomas Edison State College, Trenton, and pursued studies in pastoral ministry in Georgian Court University, Lakewood, and pastoral Hispanic leadership in The Catholic University of America, Washington.

Prior to his work with the Diocese of Trenton, he served as associate director of the Office of Evangelization in the Metuchen Diocese.

Sister Gerrie, a Sister of St. Joseph of Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, has served in a variety of ministries over the years, some of which include intergenerational faith formation, education, vocation director, parish administrator, pastoral associate, and coordinator of R.C.I.A. and liturgy.  She co-founded two service learning outreach programs for young adults in urban and rural areas. Over the years Sister Gerrie has given retreats for faculties, parishes, young adults, colleges and universities. She presently serves on the staff at San Alfonso Retreat House.

In conjunction with on-going education and certification in R.C.I.A ., and the rite adapted for children, Sister Gerrie served for several years on the Diocese of Trenton’s Worship Office R.C.I.A. sub-commission helping to plan programs, days of reflection, and training for R.C.I.A. directors, teams and those in the process of initiation. 

Looking ahead to the retreat, Bulvanoski said that the day promises to be “prayerful and offer time to both share with others at the retreat and spend time alone with God. And the two presenters are great.”

“In the end though, what will be the strongest part of the day will be our elect, candidates and R.C.I.A. team members themselves,” Bulvanoski said. “Just picture it – all these people have been working very hard on their faith, each in their own parish. On this day, they will have a chance to pray and share together. They are the key ingredient. It’s going to be a wonderful day.”

There is no fee to attend the retreat but registration with number of people attending from each parish is suggested by Feb. 22. For more information, contact Bulvanoski at 609-403-7185 or email: [email protected] or Kathleen Golazeski at 609-403-7205 or [email protected].